Johnny Lewis’ huge call on world title hopeful Sam Goodman

Iconic trainer Johnny Lewis has just made a massive claim about one of the rising stars of Australian boxing.

Legendary trainer Johnny Lewis has labelled Sam Goodman the fittest fighter he‘s seen since Jeff Fenech.

Goodman, who has driven hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of kilometres between the South and Central Coasts for training, takes the next step on his path to a super-bantamweight world title fight when he takes on Mexican Miguel Flores on Tim Tszyu‘s undercard at the Gold Coast Convention Centre this Sunday.

It’s another step up in competition after Goodman upset the bookies with a split decision win over Ra’eese Aleem at the same venue in June as he continues his rise up the IBF and WBO rankings.

Lewis, one of Australian boxing’s greatest minds, watched Goodman spar 12 hard rounds against four fresh opponents recently. Each sparring partner left the ring dripping in sweat and gasping for air, while Goodman barely slowed down.

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Sam Goodman fights Miguel Flores this weekend. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“He’s the fittest fighter I’ve seen since the days of Jeff Fenech, and that’s an enormous wrap,” Lewis tells this masthead.

“I love the way Sam pushes himself, and no one pushed themselves more than Jeff. These guys, they don’t want to come second. In anything. They have to come first.

“No one else could do what Jeff did when it came to pushing your body, he was amazing. We’d be running, and he’d say, ‘Alright, I’ll stay with you today’, but then he’d see someone half a mile in front, and he’d have to go and catch them. He couldn’t help himself.

“And Sam’s got that x-factor too.”

Lewis even says Goodman would have endeared himself to another Aussie sporting great of a similar era to Fenech.

“Jack Gibson always used to say that you only get out what you put in, and Sam would’ve certainly been Jack Gibson’s type of competitor,” Lewis says. “He would have known.”

Goodman celebrates his upset win over Ra’eese Aleem. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

It hasn’t been an easy road to get to this level, says Goodman. Indeed, it’s been hell.

“The work I do up at Complete Boxing on the Central Coast, it’s brutal,” he says. “We say it’s like getting tortured with some of the sessions we do.

“You just feel like you’re in a loop of hell, with constant cardio machines and exercises in between.

“He’s got a thousand different ways to break you, so this boxing stuff, it feels easy. That’s why I’ve got all these fresh guys coming in for sparring every few rounds, because if you leave one guy in there, after a few rounds, they’re wilting and I’m still going.”

Goodman could be fighting for a world title be next year. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Goodman hasn’t just put his body through the ringer to get to where he is. He’s worn out a few cars as well.

Until recently, the Albion Park resident was making regular trips to the Central Coast for training – a round trip that can be over 500km when including travel to and from various gyms and training vases.

“There are days when you’re driving up and back in the same day – I’ve done that many times,” he says. “I’ve had days where I’ve trained in the morning, driven home to watch the boys play footy, then driven back in the arvo and trained again.

“It’s a lot of driving, but again, that’s what needs to be done. I just whack on a podcast or a good playlist and it feels like 30 minutes, not two hours.”

The undefeated Goodman in action against former world champion TJ Doheny earlier this year. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Goodman has lost track of how many cars he’s been through.

“A lot. A lot,” he laughs. “I’ve just picked up a new car sponsor, so they look after me now, but before, I was driving around in this shit box or that shit box.

“I was on about a car a year since I was on my Ps, and I’ve had plenty of car trouble, but I’m looked after now.”

Lewis says Goodman is destined for big things if he maintains that work ethic.

“I can see Sam winning a world title,” he says. “I can see him defending it, and with his competitiveness, he could jag two world titles.

“He’s got that in him.”

Originally published as Johnny Lewis’ huge call on world title hopeful Sam Goodman